GHK-Cu

GHK-Cu is the 1:1 copper(II) complex of the human tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine. Studied across dermal wound-healing, skin-regeneration, hair-follicle, anti-oxidative-stress, and gene-expression literatures with copper-dependent fibroblast and keratinocyte responses as the dominant mechanistic readouts.

Definition

GHK is a naturally occurring human tripeptide (sequence Gly-His-Lys) originally identified in human plasma as a copper-binding factor whose plasma concentration declines with age. In the presence of Cu(II), the peptide forms a stable 1:1 chelate complex (GHK-Cu) that is the bioactive species in the dominant research literature for the compound. The synthetic supply form is typically the pre-formed copper-peptide complex rather than the copper-free tripeptide, although both forms are studied and have partly overlapping activity profiles.

Coordination chemistry of the GHK-Cu complex was characterised in detail by Conato and colleagues, with the histidine imidazole, terminal amine, and adjacent peptide-bond nitrogens forming the primary Cu(II) coordination sphere (PMID 11325542). The structural framework underwrites the compound’s redox-active and copper-delivery functions in cell-culture and in-vivo models. The synthetic peptide is supplied lyophilised in the Cu(II)-complexed form for research applications.

How GHK-Cu is studied in peptide research

Research on GHK-Cu spans dermal-fibroblast and keratinocyte culture, three-dimensional skin-equivalent models, in-vivo dermal-wound and burn models, and gene-expression analyses of skin-regeneration pathways. Pickart and colleagues have published a series of synthesis articles consolidating the wider literature: tissue-remodelling effects (PMID 18644225), oxidative-stress and age-related conditions (PMID 22666519), skin-regeneration mechanisms (PMID 26236730), nervous-system gene expression (PMID 28212278), and a comprehensive regenerative-actions review integrating the gene-expression data (PMID 29986520). Kang and colleagues documented integrin expression and p63 positivity in keratinocyte culture with the copper-complexed form (PMID 19319546).

The copper-free GHK tripeptide and the copper-complexed GHK-Cu have overlapping but distinguishable activity profiles. Copper-free GHK has been examined for stem-cell-recovering effects in skin models (PMID 23019153). The Beretta study documented GHK as a quencher of the lipid-peroxidation product 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, establishing the peptide’s anti-oxidative role independent of copper (PMID 17672515).

Related terms

• Angiogenesis
• Tendon fibroblast
• Endothelial cell
• Copper(II) coordination
• Keratinocyte
• Dermal fibroblast
• p63 transcription factor

Where GHK-Cu appears in the Ronin catalog

• GHK-Cu 50mg — single-compound vial, lyophilized copper-complexed tripeptide
• Glow Blend — research bundle incorporating GHK-Cu alongside complementary skin-research compounds

References

1. Conato C et al. Copper complexes of glycyl-histidyl-lysine and two of its synthetic analogues: chemical behaviour and biological activity. Biochim Biophys Acta 2001;1526(2):199-210. [PMID 11325542]
2. Pickart L. The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling. J Biomater Sci Polym Ed 2008;19(8):969-988. [PMID 18644225]
3. Kang YA et al. Copper-GHK increases integrin expression and p63 positivity by keratinocytes. Arch Dermatol Res 2009;301(4):301-306. [PMID 19319546]
4. Pickart L et al. The human tripeptide GHK-Cu in prevention of oxidative stress and degenerative conditions of aging: implications for cognitive health. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2012;2012:324832. [PMID 22666519]
5. Pickart L et al. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. Biomed Res Int 2015;2015:648108. [PMID 26236730]
6. Pickart L et al. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. Int J Mol Sci 2018;19(7):1987. [PMID 29986520]

Glossary entries describe research-context use of peptide-research terminology. They do not constitute medical, veterinary, or clinical advice. GHK-Cu is sold strictly as a research-grade reagent for laboratory and bench research applications.